Chasing Vermeer Project

By: Maddox Swanstrom

Chasing Vermeer Project

By: Maddox Swanstrom

Plot summary

Chasing Vermeer is a 2004 children's art mystery novel written by Blue Balliett and illustrated by Brett Helquist. Set in Hyde Park, Chicago near the University of Chicago, the novel follows two children, Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee. After a famous Johannes Vermeer painting is stolen en route to the Art Institute of Chicago, Calder and Petra work together to try to recover it. The thief publishes many advertisements in the newspaper, explaining that he will give the painting back if the community can discover which paintings under Vermeer's name were really painted by him. This causes Petra, Calder, and the rest of Hyde Park to examine art more closely. Themes of art, chance, coincidence, deception, and problem-solving are apparent.

Setting

The setting of this story is in Chicago. Hyde Park is a more specific location. In this story there are a lot of buildings mentioned in this story and all of these buildings are in Hyde Park. So that is our setting for this book.

Delia Dell Hall

This is part of the University. It is similar to a library but it's not exactly one. This is also where Calder and Petra found The Lady Writing.

University

Calder and Petra thought that The Lady Writing was hidden in the school. So they checked every floor in the school, even the basement. There were twelve floors in all and that is how they started the 12 coincidence thing.

Powell's used book store

This is where Calder had his job. Mr.Watch owned this store, also he was one of the people who received a letter too.

Delia Dell Hall

This is part of the University. It is similar to a library but it's not exactly one. This is also where Calder and Petra found The Lady Writing.

University

Calder and Petra thought that The Lady Writing was hidden in the school. So they checked every floor in the school, even the basement. There were twelve floors in all and that is how they started the 12 coincidence thing.

Powell's used book store

This is where Calder had his job. Mr.Watch owned this store, also he was one of the people who received a letter too.

Theme

The theme of this story is Justice. It is first seen with the three letters sent by the thief, wanting justice for Johannes Vermeer. This desire for justice was then expressed by the main characters as they searched for The Lady Writing.

Calder

Calder is an eleven-year-old boy who attends the University School in Hyde Park near Chicago. He is what the narrator calls a Hybrid kid with his dad being from India and his mom from Canada. Their home is quiet and orderly. As an only child Calder often wishes his parents paid less attention to him. Calder is a smart, somewhat odd, boy who loves pentominoes and anything related to math and patterns. As the story progresses, he uses the patterns and clues he he believes his pentominoes give him to guide his and Petra's search for The Lady Writing, a painting by Johannes Vermeer.

Petra

Petra is an eleven-year-old girl who loves to write. She helped Calder find the painting and other clues and coincidences. She was his best friend and she cared for him.

Mrs. Sharpe

She is an old lady who lives about a block away from Calder and Petra. Her husband was a Vermeer scholar. Also Mrs. Sharpe was one of the three people who got a letter from the theft. She kinda helped Calder and Petra find The Lady Writing too.

Calder

Calder is an eleven-year-old boy who attends the University School in Hyde Park near Chicago. He is what the narrator calls a Hybrid kid with his dad being from India and his mom from Canada. Their home is quiet and orderly. As an only child Calder often wishes his parents paid less attention to him. Calder is a smart, somewhat odd, boy who loves pentominoes and anything related to math and patterns. As the story progresses, he uses the patterns and clues he he believes his pentominoes give him to guide his and Petra's search for The Lady Writing, a painting by Johannes Vermeer.

Petra

Petra is an eleven-year-old girl who loves to write. She helped Calder find the painting and other clues and coincidences. She was his best friend and she cared for him.

Mrs. Sharpe

She is an old lady who lives about a block away from Calder and Petra. Her husband was a Vermeer scholar. Also Mrs. Sharpe was one of the three people who got a letter from the theft. She kinda helped Calder and Petra find The Lady Writing too.

Pentominoes

A set of pentominoes is a mathematical tool consisting of twelve pieces. Each piece is made up of five squares that share at least one side. Pentominoes are used by mathematicians around the world to explore ideas about geometry and numbers. Calder uses these in the book to help him think and help him understand what is going on. They were an early birthday present from his cousin.